Advice I would give my younger violinist self

When I was in my teens finishing music school and trying to balance it with the demands of advanced studies at the lyceum, any class was torture. Chemistry, music theory, literature, music literature, algebra, you name it. I did not want to confess to my parents or friends that everything was overwhelming. I put a lot of pressure on myself along the way as I tried to be the best at my specialty (violin) and fulfill the dreams of my teachers to continue my studies and get accepted into the music college. Secretly though, I wanted that too, but I knew that it would not be my life path. I was burned out to the extent that my grandma had to talk to the teachers so they allowed me to take exams and I would not get expelled from the music school. I graduated. Surprisingly, with good grades.

But, as I am always trying to look at the positives of any event, it was an unforgettable experience that allowed me to come up with a few points to follow throughout my entire life; advice that I would give my younger self to successfully pursue my own musical (and not only) dreams.

1. Have fun with your studies. When you listen to the music pieces, try to create a story in your mind, and reflect on how it makes you feel. This way you'd remember the melody or a main theme much easier. Even boring music theory won't be as tedious if you create some image in your mind and link it to your senses like hearing, seeing, feeling, or smelling. Use colored pencils and crayons, draw in your notebooks.

2. It is okay to be more focused on one subject, you don't need to be an expert in everything. But you will have to learn the basics of other subjects regardless.

3. You will appreciate your skills (including playing piano!) and knowledge of classical music later in your life. So make a little more effort. Be curious. Ask a lot of questions.

4. Try to get videotapes with your performances or they will get lost in the history of time and bottomless library archives.

5. What you do right now is not pointless. Going to classes is not pointless. Talking to your teachers is not pointless. Making connections is not pointless. Your experience is not pointless.

This is what I would tell my younger self to persevere and keep going. Life is a great journey and everything that happened in the past or is happening right now has a meaning.